Tanning apparatus.



No. 659.077. Patented Oct. 2, I900.

J. F. LESTEFLI mmma APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dse. 16, 1898.- Renewed Jan. 12, 1900;)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Shoe! l.

IN VE N T019 whromvfr.

Patented Oct. 2, I900. J. F. LESTER.

TANNING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1898. Renewed Jan. 12, 1900.)

2 Sheets$heat 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JAMES FRANKLIN LESTER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

TANNING APPARATUS.

SPECIFidATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,077, dated October 2, 1900.

Application file'd December 15, 1898. Renewed January 12, 1900. Serial No. 1,212. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES FRANKLIN LEs- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tanning and Oleanin g Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for treating hides and fibrous materials; and it consists generally of the novel construction and arrangement of the various parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set out in the claims.

The prime object of the invention is to produce an apparatus by means of which various tanning or cleaning fluids may be successfully applied to the material being treated while under pressure and at the same time under agitation or circulation, if desired, whereby the fluids are more rapidly and evenly forced into the tissues or textures of the material.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the apparatus that the process of tanning or cleaning may be accomplished without handling or removing the material being treated from the chamber into which it is placed.

Other objects oftheinvention will become apparent upon further description thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved apparatus, the hide-chamber being in vertical section to show the interior thereof and. one of the fluid-tanks and the water-tank broken away to show the construction of strainers; Fig. 2, an end view, partly in section, to show the car in the hide-chamber; Fig. 3, an end view of the hide-chamber with the door open to show the tier of drawers in the car, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of one of the drawers.

In the severalviews the numeral 1 indicates a chamber of any suitable shape, preferably cylindrical, constructedof metal suflicie tly strong to withstand the pressure to whic it may be subjected, and is perfectly air and water tight. The chamber'is of such dimensions as may be found to easily accommodate a car of suflieient size to contain any desired quantity of material. One end of the chamber 1 is fitted with a door 9, which can be areadily'removed and replaced when occasion requires, and laid upon the floor is a track 18, upon which the car containing the material to be treated is adapted to run.

The numeral 2 indicates a series of tanks for containing the tanning or cleaning fluids, and 3 a water-tank. Each fluid-tank is provided with a suitable strainer 36 and the water-tank with a series of strainers 35. The fluid and the water tanks are connected with the hamber 1 by means of suitable supplypipes. Each of said tanks is connected to a pipe 4 by a short coupling 21, and the pipe 4 is connected with a pump 7 by a coupling 23. The pump is connected with a perforated pipe 6, which enters the chamber 1, near its top, by a pipe 5, and the supply of fluid or water to the pump is controlled by a valve 24. Each of the couplings 21 is provided with a valve 22 to turn on or cut off the supply of fluid or water to the pump and the pipe 4 with an airvalve 32.

The numeral 8 indicates a return-pipe.

which is connected with each of the fluidtanks by a coupling 30, provided with a controlling-valve 31. The pipe 8 is also connected with the water-tank by a coupling 33, provided with a controlling-valve 34. Communicating with the chamber 1 through its bottom or floor is a three-branch pipe 8 which is connected with each of the pipes 4 and 8, a valve 25 being placed at its junction with the pipe 4. The return-pipe 8 is provided with a valve 26 for regulating the discharge of the fluid from the chamber and also the pressure therein and with a safety-valve 29 to also regulate the pressure in the chamber,

The car 10, which is mounted upon wheels 17, is of any suitable framework construction and is provided at the top with bars 19, upon which are hung the hides 20 in a manner shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to treat fibrous material, such as hemp, jute, &c., drawers 12 are employed. These drawers are constructed of wire-cloth, except their front pieces, and when filled with material are placed within the car 10 in tiers, as shown in Fig. 3.

Properly supported outside of the chamber 1 is a track 18', the ends of which are in line with the track in said chamber, so that the car 10 may be readily run from one track onto the other, it being run onto the outside track for the purpose of loading and unloading.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The car is loaded with the material to be treated and run in upon the track within the chamber 1, and the door of the chamber closed. The fluid from any one of thetanksis then turnedon,care being taken toclose valves 25, 27, and 32 and open valve 24. The fluid passes from the particular tank through its open valve to pipe 4, thence to the pump and pipe 5 into pipe 6, and thence into the chamber through the perforations 28 of the pipe 6. As the fluid enters the chamber,the airescapes through the valve 39, which has been previously opened. The pressure exerted by the pump forces the fluid in rapid currents down upon the material, causing considerable agitation of the fluid, and the same pressure forces the fluid out through the dischargepipes s and 8, the valve 27 being open. The fluid may be returned to the tank from which it is being taken by closing valve 27 and opening valves 26, 29, and 31, the return of the fluid being regulated by the valves 26and 29. Either of the valves 26 and 29' may be manipulated to regulate the pressure in the chamber, and if it is desired to have pressure with agitation and circulation the valve 26 is closed and valve 25 opened. IVhen the material has been sufficiently treated, the flow of the fluid may be cut off by closing the valve 22 of the supply-tank and opening the valve 32. The pump continuing to operate, air is forced into the chamber to force the fluid out through the return-pipes back to its tank. After the fluid has been returned to its tank it may be strengthened or renewed before it passes again into the chamber 1. If it is desired to Wash the material with water, the valve 22 is opened to permit the water to flow into the chamber, and as the water enters the air escapes through valve 29, which is open for the purpose. The water is returned to its tank through the pipes 8 and 8, valve 34 being open, or it may be discharged through pipe 8 by opening valve 27. As each fluid is returned to its tank, it passes through the strainer 36, which catches and retains all hair and other material not dissolved. The strainers in the tank 3 serve to cleanse the water when it is returned to the tank. The fluid an'o'water tanks are arranged at such a height above the chamber 1 as will give a certain amount of pressure, and as many tanks may be used as the number of fluids employed may require.

'In treating the hides the agitation and circulation of the fluids are quite important, as it has the effect of removing the hair or wool after the same has become loosened from the action of fluids used for that purpose. It will be observed that the pump has the function of both a liquid and an air pump.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for treating hides and fibrous materials the combination of a suitable chamber for containing the material to be treated, one or more independently-controlled fluid-tanks, a supply-pipe connecting said tanks with the chamber, a pump interposed in the supply-pipe for creating a pressure within the chamber, a valve regulating the supply of fluid to the pump, and a valvecontrolled discharge-pipe, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus for treating hides and fibrous materials the combination of a suitable chamber for containing the material to be treated, one or more independently-controlled fluid-tanks, situated above the chamber and connected therewith by valved supply-pipes, a pump interposed in the main supply-pipe for creating both a fluid and an air pressure within the chamber, a valve controlling the inlet to the pump, a valve regulating the pressure and controlling the circulation, and a valved dischargepipe, substantially as specified.

3. In an apparatus for treating hides and fibrous materials, the combination of a suitable chamber for containing the material to be treated, one or more independently-controlled fluid-tanks, situated above the chamber and connected therewith by valved supply-pipes, a pump interposed in the main supply-pipe for creating both a fluid and an air pressure within said chamber, a valve controlling the inlet to the pump, valved return-pipes connecting the fluid-tanks with the chamber, valves regulating the pressure and controlling the circulation, and means for the escape of air from the chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for treating hides and fibrous materials, the combination of asuitable chamber for containing the material to be treated, one or more fluid-tanks situated above the chamber and connected therewith by valve-controlled supply-pipes, valve-controlled return pipes also connecting said fluid-tanks with said chamber, a pump interposed in the main supply-pipe for creating pressure Within the chamber and returnpipes, valves for regulating the pressure and controlling the circulation, a valve controlled discharge-pipe, an air-valve in the main supply-pipe, and an air-valve in the chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the hide-chamber 1, provided with a door 9; pump '7situated near said chamber-pipe 5 extending up from said pump and connected with pipe 6; pipe 6 entering the closed end of said chamber and extending through it, its full length and having perforations 28; air-cock 29, in the upper part of said chamber; pipe 23 connecting said pipe to pipe 4, provided with a cook 24; pipe 4 running up and above said chamber; aircock 32 in the front end of said pipe; tanks 2 and 3 situated above said pipe 4, and connected to same by means of pipes 21, each pipe provided with a cock 22; pipe 8 running above tanks 2 and3 and connected with tank 2 by pipes 30, and with tank 3 by pipe 33, each pipe 30 being provided with a cock 31 and pipe 33 with a cook 34; said pipe 8 running down and then below said pump 7 and said chamber 1, and having a waste-pipe 8' and cock 27, and connected to said tank by means of branch pipes 8 said pipe 8 being provided with cocks 25 and 26; track 18 situated in the bottom of the hide-chamber 1 and adapted to carry carriages, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of the hide-chamber 1 provided with a door 9 and pump 7 situated near said chamber; pipe 5 extending up from said pump and connected with pipe 6; pipe 6 entering the closed end of said chamber and extending through its full length and having perforations 28; air-cock 29 in the upper part of said chamber; pipe 23 connecting said pump 2 with pipe 4 and provided with a cook 24; pipe 4 leading back, turning up then forward to the open end of said hide'chamber and above the same; air-cock 32 in the front end of said pipe, tanks 2 and 3 situated above said pipe and connected with'the same by means of pipes 21, which pipe provided with a cook 22; pipe 8 running above tanks 2 and 3, and connected with tanks 2 by pipes 30 and with tank 3 by pipe 33, each pipe 30 being provided with a cook 31 and pipe 33 with a cook 34; strainers 36 and 35 situated in tanks 2 and 3 respectively; said pipe 8 running down and then below said pump 7 and said hide-chamber and having a waste-pipe 8 and connected with said chamber by branch pipes 8 said pipe 8 being provided with cock 26 and safety-valve 29; track 18 situated in the bottom of the hide-chamber carriages 10 adapted to carry material and to run it on said track and out on track 18; track 18 situated at the open end of the hide-chamber, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

7. A device for applying tanning or cleaning fluids to hides or skins or other material, putting the fluids under pressure, agitation and circulation at the same time, consisting of the combination of the hide-chambers 1 provided with a door 9; pump 7 situated near the closed end of said chambers; pipe 5 extending up from said pump and connected with pipe 6; pipe 6 entering the closed end of said chamber and extending through it, its full length and having perforations 28; aircock 29, in the upper part of said chamber; pipe 23 connecting said pump to the pipe 4, and provided with a cock 24; pipe 4, turning up, then forward to the front or open end of said tank and above the same; air-cock 32 in the front end of said pipe; tanks 2 and 3 situated above said pipe 4, and connected to the same by means of pipe 21, such pipe provided with a cook 22; pipe 8 running above tanks 2 and 3 and connected with tanks 2 by pipes 30, and with tank 3 by pipes 33, each pipe 30 being provided with a cook 31 and pipe 33 with a cock 34; said pipe 8 running down and then below said pump 7 and said chamber 1; and having a waste-pipe 8 and cock 27, and connected to said tank by means of branch pipes 8 said pipe 8 being provided with cocks 25 and 26; track 18 situated in the bottom of hide-chamber 1 and adapted to carry carriages, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth. 

